D4.0 Finding Support & Sharing Knowledge

Image of a Black woman who is a software engineer navigating an online Slack community on one large monitor while programming software on another monitor.

Story Time!
​Finding Support and Sharing Knowledge
Dominique’s journey into tech wasn’t a smooth ride. From executive assistant to Software Engineer, Dominique’s career path was anything but conventional. "I’ve always been an introvert," she says with a slight smile. "But when I entered the tech field, I quickly realized I had to ask questions. And the online community was where I found my answers."
Dominique is a firm believer in the power of online communities, especially for those breaking into new fields. “I would search for solutions on Google, join forums like Stack Overflow, and ping people directly if I needed help. But it wasn’t just about asking questions,” she says. “It was also about knowing where to ask and how to learn from others who’ve been there.”
In her mentorship role, Dominique encourages young Black women to tap into the wealth of knowledge available online. “There’s a whole community of people out there willing to help, and sometimes, you don’t even need to ask. You can just go through a thread or documentation and learn on your own,” she explains.
For Dominique, navigating online communities is not just about solving problems. It’s about learning to ask the right questions, engaging with people, and sharing knowledge to help others rise. Through this, she continues to inspire the next generation of Black women in tech.
​Examples of Digital Literacies and Reflection & Writing Prompts: Review the examples of digital literacies. From the list below, select 5 to explore further throughout the lesson. Based on your selections, reflect on the corresponding prompts and write out your responses. You may use those selected or choose new ones later on in the lesson. You are welcome to skip any of the prompts that do not apply and jump to the "guiding questions for online search" to learn more about how others demonstrate the digital literacies.
1. Familiarize

• Reflection: How do you typically get acquainted with new digital tools or platforms? What is your approach when encountering new technology for the first time?
• Admiration: Think of someone you admire who has successfully learned to use new tools or platforms. What about their approach do you find inspiring?
• Development Goal: How would you like to improve your process of becoming familiar with new technologies? Are there strategies that could make this learning process quicker and more effective?
• Exploration Question: When trying a new digital tool, what are the first steps you take? How do you ensure you're learning its features properly?
• Guiding Online Search Questions:
  • Search for articles or blogs about how women in tech familiarize themselves with new digital tools. What strategies or techniques do they use?
  • Look for tutorials or online courses that help people become proficient with new digital platforms. Which of these might work best for you?

2. Navigate the Digital Space

• Reflection: When you're in an online environment (e.g., a website or digital platform), how do you navigate through it? Are there tools or practices you use to make navigation smoother?
• Admiration: How do others demonstrate effective navigation in digital environments? What tips or strategies have you learned from observing their actions?
• Development Goal: How can you become more efficient and effective at navigating new digital spaces? What aspects of navigation do you find challenging, and how can you improve them?
• Exploration Question: What methods do you use to organize and keep track of information in a digital space? Do you use bookmarks, notes, or other organizational tools?
• Guiding Online Search Questions:
  • Search for blogs or online articles that discuss the best practices for navigating websites or apps. What tips do experts share?
  • Look for women leaders in digital spaces (such as website designers or online community managers) and study how they navigate digital environments. How can you apply their techniques?

3. Navigating Online Communities

• Reflection: When navigating online communities (e.g., Facebook groups, LinkedIn groups, Slack channels, Discord), how do you learn how to use the features and tools available? How do you get in touch with administrators and other members to ask questions or participate in discussions? How do you stay updated with the latest information in the group, and how do you search for older information for context or insights?
• Admiration: Think about someone you admire who is skilled at navigating online communities. How do they interact with members, find and engage with useful content, and maintain their presence in these spaces? What practices or strategies do they use that you could adopt to become more proficient in navigating online communities?
• Development Goal: How can you improve your ability to navigate online communities and make the most of the features they offer? What strategies can you use to better track updates, post relevant information, and search for older discussions to enhance your knowledge?
• Exploration Question: When joining a new online community, how do you figure out how to use the platform’s features effectively? How do you learn where to find information, how to engage with other members, and how to ask questions or post content?
• Guiding Online Search Questions:
  • Search for tips on how to effectively navigate and use online community platforms like Facebook groups, LinkedIn groups, Slack, or Discord. What are some best practices for interacting with community members and administrators?
  • Explore articles or blogs written by women who excel at managing their presence in online communities. What advice do they offer for staying updated, finding information, and building relationships within these spaces?
  • Look for resources that focus on organizing information and keeping track of discussions within online communities. How can you use features like search, notifications, or pinned posts to manage your involvement effectively?

4. Ask Questions

• Reflection: How do you approach asking questions online when you need information? Do you ask specific questions on forums, in social media groups, or through direct messaging?
• Admiration: Think about someone you admire for their questioning abilities. How do they ask insightful questions? What makes their inquiries effective in getting valuable answers?
• Development Goal: How can you improve your questioning skills to get better responses or insights? Are there ways to refine how you phrase your questions or where you ask them?
• Exploration Question: What are the different platforms or communities you can use to ask questions? How do you determine the best place to seek help (e.g., Reddit, LinkedIn, X)?
• Guiding Online Search Questions:
  • Search for experts or mentors who excel at asking the right questions in their careers. How do they formulate and ask questions to get valuable insights?
  • Look for women in the tech industry who are known for asking powerful questions that lead to innovation or new discoveries. How can you replicate their approach?

An image of a Latinas, Afro-Latinas, and Black woman in an open concept office space working as software engineers navigating an online Slack community.

Lesson: Exploring and Expanding Your Online Community Navigation Skills for Academic and Professional Growth
Objective: By the end of this lesson, you will:

1. Reflect on how you currently navigate online communities for academic or professional purposes.
2. Identify new ways to improve your ability to navigate online communities, participate in discussions, and stay updated with relevant information.
3. Generate prompts for ChatGPT to explore how to use online communities in innovative ways for your school or work.
4. Discover role models, especially women, who excel at navigating online communities and learn from their strategies.

Step 1: Reflecting on Your Current Online Community Navigation PracticesChoose digital literacies from the following list:

• Familiarize
• Navigate digital space
• Navigating online communities
• Ask questions

For each selected literacy, answer the following prompts:

1. How do you currently navigate online communities? Reflect on how you engage in online communities (e.g., LinkedIn groups, Facebook groups, Discord, Slack). What platforms do you use, and how do you participate in discussions, access resources, or engage with other members?
2. What tools or strategies do you use to stay informed? How do you find and filter the most relevant and up-to-date information in these spaces? Do you follow specific pages, people, or forums that align with your professional or academic goals?
3. How do you ask questions or seek help in online communities? Reflect on how you approach asking questions in these communities. Do you feel confident reaching out to members or administrators? How do you decide where to ask your questions to get the best answers?
4. How do others navigate online communities in a way that you admire? Think of someone you admire in your field or a related area who navigates online communities well. What practices do they use to connect with others, stay informed, or build their online reputation? What strategies or habits can you adopt from them?
5. In what ways do you not want to navigate online communities for yourself? Are there specific behaviors or approaches to online communities that you find ineffective, unprofessional, or harmful? How can you avoid these behaviors and ensure your online presence aligns with your goals?
6. What new strategies or tools can you explore to navigate online communities more effectively? Identify areas where you can improve your ability to connect with others and stay engaged in your online communities. What digital tools or methods can help you manage information, track discussions, or engage more meaningfully with other members?

Step 2: Exploring New Ways to Navigate Online CommunitiesUsing your responses from Step 1, generate prompts for ChatGPT to help explore how you can navigate online communities in new and innovative ways for your academic or professional journey.
Example ChatGPT Prompts:

1. "How can I use [LinkedIn groups] to build my network and stay informed about trends in [field/discipline]? What are some effective strategies for engaging with professionals in my industry?"
2. "How can I use [Facebook groups] to share academic research or resources in my [course name/field]? What are some ways to facilitate meaningful discussions and contribute to the group's knowledge base?"
3. "What tools or strategies can I use to effectively navigate [Discord/Slack] channels for collaboration with colleagues in [specific industry or project]? How can I keep track of important messages and notifications without feeling overwhelmed?"
4. "How can I leverage [asking questions] in online communities to enhance my learning and career growth in [specific profession]? What are the best practices for getting the most out of asking questions in these spaces?"
5. "What platforms or tools can I use to manage my participation in multiple online communities and make sure I’m up-to-date on important discussions in my [academic/professional] field?"

Step 3: Finding Role Models in Online Community NavigationUse platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, or other professional spaces to find women who excel at navigating online communities within your field of interest. Look for role models who can inspire you in how to enhance your own online community navigation skills.
Guiding Search Questions:

1. "Search for women in [your discipline or profession] who actively participate in online communities like LinkedIn groups or Slack channels. How do they engage with their network and share valuable content?"
2. "Who are the top women in [tech/business/education/creative industries] who use social media or online forums to build their brand and share insights with their followers?"
3. "Find women who are known for their leadership in online communities. How do they use these platforms to engage with others, share knowledge, and foster professional relationships?"
4. "Explore women in academia or industry who use online communities to stay informed and collaborate on projects. What strategies do they use to build networks and contribute meaningfully?"

Step 4: Examples of How to Navigate Online CommunitiesHow to Navigate Online Communities:

• Engage in discussions: Participate in conversations that are relevant to your field. Comment, like, or share posts that align with your academic or professional goals.
• Follow industry leaders: Stay updated by following key people and pages in your field. Track their posts, join relevant discussions, and learn from their shared content.
• Use search tools: Use the search features in these communities to find specific topics, groups, or posts. This helps you find the most relevant information quickly.
• Ask questions strategically: When you have a question, approach the right group or individual for help. Be clear and concise, and engage respectfully with others in the community.
• Stay organized: Use tools to track important posts, discussions, or resources. Set notifications for groups or channels you're interested in to stay updated on new content.

​Step 5: Conclusion & Next Steps

1. Review your insights from the lesson. Reflect on how you can start applying these new digital literacies to enhance your online community navigation skills.
2. Set goals for the next few weeks. Focus on the digital literacies you want to expand. Create a personal development plan to integrate these skills into your academic or work projects.
3. Practice regularly. Engage with people in your field or join online communities. Experiment with new platforms or tools to see how they can enhance your social media navigation.
4. Track your progress. Adjust your approach based on feedback and results. Consistently refine your skills to build your online presence and expand your academic or professional network.

By the end of this lesson, you will have a deeper understanding of how to effectively navigate online communities for academic and professional growth. You will have identified role models who excel in these skills and developed strategies to enhance your online presence and engagement.